Topographic Profile Analysis and Morphologic Characterization of Europa's Double Ridges

摘要: Several models exist to describe the formation of Europa’s double ridges (defined as near-linear features with a central trough flanked by two, parallel raised edifices [1,2]); however, questions still linger how these ubiquitous form, and if self-similar process is at work across all scales on Europa. The existing ridge mod-els invoke cyclical tidal working (with its associated opening closing fractures), inducing forced extrusion materials onto surface [1], or perhaps frictional heating along crack walls that builds up [2]. There are also incremental ice-wedging within sub-surface cracks [3] cryovolcanism [4]. We created 229 topographic profiles using com-bined stereographic (3D) photoclinometric (PC) images [5,6] for 24 pairs (12 which display apparent lateral offsets relatively older crosscut features). These located in 6 areas both leading trailing hemispheres (corresponding resolutions given parentheses): 1) Bright Plains (18 m/pix), 2) Conamara Chaos (180 3) Rhadamanthys Linea (64 4) Cilix region (110 5) 17EDISSTR01 (northwest Katreus Linea) (55 m/pix) 6) Argadnel Regio (~6 m/pix). hope use topography proxy for-mation processes through this thorough analysis.